Mountain Pine Motel
909 MT-49
East Glacier Park, MT
Three generations at the edge of Glacier. Knotty pine, hand-written keys, and one of the best locations in Montana.
About Mountain Pine Motel
Mountain Pine Motel opened in 1947 on the edge of East Glacier Park, half a mile north of US-2 on the road that leads directly into Glacier National Park's southeast corner. The Sherburne family has owned and operated it for multiple generations, and that continuity shows in everything from the condition of the knotty pine paneling to the hand-written keys guests receive at check-in. East Glacier is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder train and surrounded by the Bob Marshall Wilderness on three sides. The motel is set in a genuine lodgepole pine forest with beamed ceilings and handcrafted details that match the landscape. It is a working Montana motel maintained with care across nearly eight decades, and the guests who find it tend to feel like they found something.
What Mountain Pine Motel Is Known For
The Mountain Pine Motel has been in the same family for multiple generations, which in a gateway town as heavily trafficked as East Glacier is unusual. Most properties in Glacier Country have changed hands repeatedly as the tourism economy has intensified. The Sherburnes have held on to what they built and maintained it as a working motel rather than converting it to vacation rentals or selling to a management group. The knotty pine character, the handcrafted details, and the direct relationship between ownership and guests are all products of that continuity.
Amenities
- EV Charging
- WiFi
- EV charging (NEMA 14-50) outside rooms
- Free parking
- Refrigerator-freezer in all rooms
- Microwave and coffee maker
- Satellite TV
- Private cottage available
What Guests Love
- The Sherburne family's multi-generational ownership produces the kind of attentive, consistent hospitality that guests at chain-managed properties rarely experience - reviewers call it one of the cleanest motels they have ever stayed in, at any price point.
- Parking is directly outside every room door - no interior hallways, no elevator, no hauling gear through a lobby. Load in and walk straight to Glacier.
- NEMA 14-50 EV charging outlets are positioned directly outside rooms, making this one of the more practically EV-friendly properties in the Montana gateway town corridor.
- The Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park, known for dramatic peaks and far fewer crowds than the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor, is eight miles up the road from the motel's front door.
- Amtrak's Empire Builder stops in East Glacier during summer months. The station is a short walk from the motel, making car-free Glacier access genuinely possible.
Worth Knowing
- The Mountain Pine is seasonal, open May through September. Book early - East Glacier fills quickly in July and August, and last-minute availability near Glacier is rare.
- No breakfast is served on-site, but East Glacier village has restaurants within walking distance, including the Glacier Park Lodge dining room a short walk away.
- Pets are not permitted at the Mountain Pine Motel.
- The motel is half a mile north of US-2 on MT-49, directly on the road to the Two Medicine entrance of Glacier National Park. The setting is a working forest, not a manicured resort ground.
- Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass are approximately 50 miles from East Glacier via US-2 and MT-49. Plan for a half-day round trip if that's on your itinerary.
The Room
The units are single-story, with parking directly outside each door and no interior hallways to navigate. Rooms feature knotty pine paneling, beamed ceilings, queen beds, refrigerator-freezers, microwaves, coffee makers, and satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. NEMA 14-50 EV charging outlets are positioned directly outside rooms, making the Mountain Pine one of the more EV-ready properties in this part of Montana. A one-bedroom cottage is also available for guests who want a more private base for a longer stay.
The Grounds
The motel sits in a lodgepole pine forest with the quiet that comes from that setting. Parking is directly in front of every unit, making load-in and load-out easy for guests arriving from long drives or off the Amtrak train a short walk away. The surrounding East Glacier Park village has restaurants, a grocery store, bicycle rental, horseback riding, a laundromat, and a historic nine-hole golf course, all within walking distance. There is no pool, no hot tub, and no lobby to linger in. The grounds are the forest and the mountain town around it.
The Experience
East Glacier is one of the best-positioned towns for Glacier National Park access without the crowds of the west side. The Two Medicine area of the park, known for its dramatic peaks, turquoise lakes, and relative solitude, is eight miles up the road. Going-to-the-Sun Road and the Logan Pass corridor are further, but Many Glacier and Cut Bank are both reachable as day trips. The Empire Builder stops in East Glacier during summer months, making the Mountain Pine one of the few motels in the country where you can arrive by train and walk to your room through the forest. Guests who stay here tend to use it as a serious base camp rather than a pass-through stop.
Details
East Glacier Park, MT 59434
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mountain Pine Motel have WiFi?
Yes, Mountain Pine Motel has WiFi.
What is there to do near Mountain Pine Motel?
Glacier National Park, Two Medicine Area: 8 miles, about a 15 minute drive. East Glacier Amtrak Station: 0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. East Glacier Golf Course: 0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Mountain Pine Motel from Glacier National Park, Two Medicine Area?
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
How far is Mountain Pine Motel from East Glacier Amtrak Station?
0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Mountain Pine Motel from East Glacier Golf Course?
0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
Is Mountain Pine Motel pet friendly?
Pets are not permitted at Mountain Pine Motel.
When is Mountain Pine Motel open?
The motel is open seasonally from May through September. East Glacier Park is a summer destination and the motel closes for the winter months. Check the website or call ahead for exact opening and closing dates in any given year.
Does Mountain Pine Motel have EV charging?
Yes. NEMA 14-50 EV charging outlets are available directly outside rooms, making it one of the more practically EV-ready properties in this part of Montana.
How far is Mountain Pine Motel from Glacier National Park?
The Two Medicine entrance to Glacier National Park is 8 miles from the motel, about a 20-minute drive. The Going-to-the-Sun Road and Logan Pass corridor are approximately 50 miles away via US-2.
Can I arrive at Mountain Pine Motel by train?
Yes. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at the East Glacier Park station in summer, and the station is about 0.3 miles from the motel - a short walk through the village. This is one of the few Montana motels with genuine train access.
What is there to eat near Mountain Pine Motel?
East Glacier village has several restaurants within walking distance of the motel, including options at the historic Glacier Park Lodge. No breakfast is served on-site.
What is the Two Medicine area of Glacier like compared to Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Two Medicine is Glacier's quieter southeast corner - dramatic peaks and turquoise lakes with significantly fewer visitors than the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor. It rewards guests who want serious scenery without the summer traffic backups that Going-to-the-Sun Road can generate.
Does Mountain Pine Motel have a pool?
Mountain Pine Motel does not have a pool. Mountain Pine Motel is 8 miles from Glacier National Park, Two Medicine Area, most guests are here for the park and surrounding outdoor recreation.
Is parking available at Mountain Pine Motel?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at Mountain Pine Motel.
Does Mountain Pine Motel include breakfast?
No. Breakfast is not included at Mountain Pine Motel.
How can I give feedback on a property I stayed at?
If you are a guest that stayed at the property, we would love feedback about your experience. Boutels listed on this site do not pay to be included nor can they pay to be sponsored or promoted. Your feedback matters. Please .
I’m affiliated with this property and have feedback on this listing.
We’d love to learn more about your property. To provide images, simply log in as a member (it’s free), find your listing on the map, choose “Visited,” and you’ll be given the option to upload images and leave a note. You can also and we’ll be in touch, just be sure to provide us with contact information in that form. Thanks!
Things to Do Near Glacier Country
Glacier National Park, Two Medicine Area
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
8 miles, about a 20 minute drive. The Two Medicine area is Glacier's quietest and most dramatically scenic corner: jagged peaks rising over turquoise lakes, excellent hiking from short walks to full-day routes, and a fraction of the crowds that gather on the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor.
East Glacier Amtrak Station
0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Amtrak's Empire Builder stops here in summer, connecting East Glacier to Seattle and Chicago. The historic station building dates to the Great Northern Railway era and is one of the few places in Montana where you can arrive by train and walk to your lodging through a pine forest.
East Glacier Golf Course
0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
0.4 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. A historic nine-hole course dating to the early resort era of Glacier tourism, set against a mountain backdrop that is difficult to concentrate on. One of the more scenic and unhurried rounds of golf available anywhere in the northern Rockies.